Automatic reel



Aug.- 3o, 1949.

W. E. NORDMARK AUTOMATIC REEL Filed April 9, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR pllecYE,70vdmavk ATTORNEY Aug. 30, 1949. w. E. NORDMARK AUTOMATIC REEL Filed April 9, 1945 5 sheds-sheet 2 00 1 afa/1.2

Aug. 30, 1949. w. E. NORDMARK 2,480,335

AUTOMATI C REEL Filed April 9, 1945 s 'sheets-sheet 5 i as 5a 6o I 61 In 79 a5 ff I r4 31 f5 I INVENTOR Fflev E Nordznar BY I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, l1949 UNITED STATES F Y 2,480,335 AUToMA'rIc REEL V Walter E, Nordmark, Grand litapids,y Mich ase, signor to American Seating Company', 'Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporatian `oirhlcw Jersey Y Y Application April 9, 1945,y Serial No. 5875411.Y

ly Y

The present invention', relates to automatic reels, and more particularlyto an automatic reel for taking up, a cable attached to a shoulder harness by means of which an` occupant oi an airplane. orlotlier vehicle is securedin his chair.

The primary objectslofethe invention lare to provide a novel automaticreel for reeling ina shoulder harness cable Whenever tension on the cable is relaxed, and for. paying out the cable as necessary to permit freedom of movement to the chair occupant Whenever such freedom of movement is both desirablefand safe; to provide such an automatic rreel having inertia-actuated. parts for positively securingV the cable ragainst paying out during collisions',` crash-landings or lother emergencies, thus .to `I'n fev'ent.,the chair occupant from being thrown. forward against the instruV ment panel, Windshield or 4other appurtenance of the vehicle and sustaining serious or f atal infjuries; to provide selective means whereby'the chair occupant may adjust the reel either to permit freedom of movement by. him (except as such movement might be prevented'by thev aforesaid inertia-actuated parts) orA to positively prevent such movement as may be found desirable in up.- side-down ying, emerging from power dives,ver other maneuvers; andin general tQDITovide such an automatioereel vwlfiich'is simple in construe-f.v

tion, e'licientvin operation, andreasnably econemieel in manufacture.

These objects are attained by the-illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the ace companying drawing,swherein: Y

Figure l is a Side and rear perspective view of an airplane pilotchair showing the Ichair occupant and shoulder harness in vrearward position in full lines and in forwardlydrawn position in` dotted lines, and showing the automatic reel and' selective control meeheem therefor attach,eelv

to the chair; Y

Figure 2 is a full scale rear elevational view of Y the automatic reel with a portion of.. the housing broken away'to disclose parts on therinterior,

Figure 5 is a left hand side elevational viewirofv.

the automatic reel with a portion of the housing brokenaway to disclose partsv on therinteriorr thereof;

Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of a spring unit.

for the automatick reel.;4

Figure 7 is aY full scale*v side elevational View of Selective Control, meeheniemierthe. reel;

Figure 8 is e. seetienal View of the Seme takenl Figure 9 is. e iragmeri-taryeeeiie1elQview thereei taten @alinea-fief Figgr :ai y

feo drum le ie freer?? cated, rearvvardrlyAV prej'et tie-'designated by the same,

safety belt 4eme enel eeeereel toeliet ttingsA 5.

Thev automatic reel enerally;v designated (vi` r has,

le Sand. mes e. A Penflllly lO- a base 'i secured byy A te the leiver-V baeleefethe y9h fil 'ther-een.. seated in vided'wth eierwaa e,

rieidlyfeeeuredtheref efr-acess L2 in metas to by rivets 9:8,

` A* drum. generally enel longitudinally lidably (11e. le. eeneemrieennular-r e is reerwerclieertien e seated. in ej kerffl. l iii i tlesp die Il il and whose es t. 'inthe drum le..

A lecess lllfor ree taininathe eelspn'ne therein,

and everilie respeieleve shoulders rei "he eure@ ie any suitable manner eihefeafety beltA i h theeccentricrwell the eetiori Off-L the eeil :Spring l5' tende te Wind the eelele 23 elite `the* die, en the. Sheulder hernessize-isrelaxed A eireular-leeee 311v e thefelewer :eurfeeee the drum.' 13,-. le? Preveed-With reienetflieeth .eli p' leinentar'yl 'ratchet rearward e adepte@ teinterleek wit e teeth 32911 e elre'ule surface Off; lilflele'asefl Y. y ,l and 3g interleelsi when-theorem leeis'sld felt-1 l di to nrev'eatperina. "et

drum is' in its 'forward position? A nevel epriaaumt urging fil- 1e Referring mafletail t-Q these drawilfl,asA

e i spindle "le is 'predeeignetei i ,1.3. ie: retetebly mounted Qn the spin-v i611. iS disposed e-,eeltension 'sierungr it meer. end le ie4v ether! end ef Whieh veeleile, 23' 24 secured by a pin 25.'

ef eelieulir' harness. 2i Whose .ferleed'she de StePS-Hexteld etere'.

the ree peripheral,

, v Cefrl'rlecsleteSeVe eral turnsof the `cable 2,3, Igtiwillbeseenthatj ,3. Whenever tension in Figure 6. This spring unit is generally designated 34 and comprises complementary spring leaves 35 identically stamped from sheet metal and each provided with a flange 36 at one end, an aperture 31 at the other end, and a bowed middle portion having a central opening 38 therein. The two spring leaves 35 are assembled in opposite, outwardly bowed juxtaposition with the flange 36 of each leaf engaging in the aperture 31 of the other leaf.

The assembled spring unit 34 is interposed between the drum I3 and the base 1, with the spindle I extending through the central openings 38 therein. The spring unit yieldingly urges the drum rearwardly out of interlocking engagement with the base and thus permits freedom of movement to the chair occupant under normal conditions of travel. However, when the movement of the vehicle is abruptly decelerated, as in a collision or other emergency, the inertia of the drum I3 overcomes the rearward pressure of the spring unit 34 and the drum I3 slides forwardly into ratchet engagement with the base 1. In this locked position of the drum, the cable 23 is thus made secure against being drawn outwardly by the forward inertia of the chair occupant, and the occupant is maintained in a safe, rearward position against the chair back.

A cover or housing 39 enclosing the drum I3 and adjacent parts is secured to the assembly by means of a screw 40 passing through a central opening 4I in the housing and threaded in the rearward end of the spindle I0. The housing 39 may also be provided with a flange 42 having apertures 43 through which pass the bolts 8 for additionally securing the housing to the assembly. An opening 44 in the housing permits free travel of the cable 23 therethrough, said opening being preferably shielded by a dust-cover 45 having a case member 46 secured to the housing 39 by rivets 41 and a cover member 48 secured to the case member 46 by means of a cotter 49 passing through aligned apertures 59 in these two members,

Selective mechanism is provided whereby the chair occupant may manually adjust the reel to locked position if he so desires. This mechanism comprises a control lever I having a yoke portion 52 within the housing whose inner arms 53 are bent to form lugs 54 which bear against opposite sides of the drum I3 for sliding the drum forwardly against the pressure of the spring unit 34. The control lever 5I extends through, and is fulcrumed in, a slot 55 in the housing 39 and has a forwardly extending outer lever arm 56 which is connected as hereinafter described to a control switch generally designated 51 mounted on the side of the chair I and conveniently accessible to the occupant of the chair.

As best shown in Figures '1, 8 and 9, the control switch 51 comprises a mounting plate 58 secured to the pilot chair I by means of bolts 59 having nuts 60. A switch barrel 6I has a reduced, cylindrically formed and inwardly turned lower portion 62 journalled in a bearing member 63 secured as by welding in an opening 64 through the mounting plate 58. A switch plunger 65 is slidably disposed in the switch barrel 6I and has a forwardly-rearwardly extending slot 66 through which extends an arcuate guide 61 secured to the chair I by means of bolts 68 having spaced collars 69 and provided with nuts 10 on the outer ends thereof.

A compression spring 1I within the switch barrel 6I normally urges the switch plunger 65 upwardly so that the bottom of the slot 66 engages the bottom edge of the arcuate guide 61. This guide 61 has a pair of cutouts 12, 13 for releasably maintaining the switch plunger 65 in its forward and rearward positions respectively.

A crank 14 is xedly secured on the inner end of the lower portion 62 of the switch barrel 6I, and has an outwardly turned flange 15 provided with a slot 16 through which extends the forward end of a exible control cable 11 longitudinally slidably disposed in a flexible control tube 18 whose forward end is secured in the curled upper portion 19 of a bracket 80 fastened by means of a bolt 8| and nut 82 to the mounting plate 58. The bracket 89 is secured against turning by means of a lug 83 engaging in a notch 84 in the mounting plate 58.

The forward end of the flexible control cable 11 is connected to the crank 14 by means of a stop 35 on the forward side of the cranks flange 15, which permits the switch plunger 65 to be moved rearwardly without moving the control cable 11. Forward movement of the switch plunger, however, draws the control cable 1I forwardly.

The rearward end of the exible control tube 13 is secured in the curled outer portion 86 of a mounting bracket 81 whose base portion 8B is secured by rivets 89 to the housing 39 of the automatic reel 5, and the rearward end of the flexible control cable 1I is connected to a rod 90 slidably mounted in a bearing 9| in the rearwardly extending medial portion 92 of the mounting bracket 81. A compression spring 93 circumf scribes the rod 90, its outer end abutting the medial portion 92 of the mounting bracket 81 and its inner end abutting a shoulder 94 on the inner end of the rod 96. A tension spring 95 connects the inner end of the rod 9U with the outer lever arm 56 of the control lever 5I.

It will be seen that when the occupant of the chair manually depresses the switch plunger 65 and moves the same forwardly from its full line position shown in Figure 7 to its dotted line position shown in the same view, the control cable 1I is moved forwardly thus moving the rod 90 outwardly and placing additional compression on the spring 93 and additional tension on the spring 95, The spring 95 thus turns the control lever 5I so that the lugs 54 bear against the drum I3, which slides the drum into locking engagement with the base 1 of the automatic reel and further compresses the leaf spring unit 34. This locks the harness cable 23 and shoulder harness 26 thus restraining the chair occupant against forward movement.

When the occupant of the chair depresses the switch plunger 65 and moves the same rearwardly from its forward position, the lcontrol cable 1I is moved rearwardly by the expansion of spring 93 and contraction of spring 95, thus releasing the control lever 5I and permitting the spring unit 34 to return the drum I3 to its normal, rearward, unlocked position. When the switch plunger 65 and the drum I3 are both in this rearward position, the drum can only be moved forwardly against the spring unit 34 by its inertia when the movement of the vehicle is abruptly decelerated, as hereinbefore described in detail.

The inertia-actuated parts of the reel automatically restrain the chair occupant against forward movement in emergencies in instances when the occupant has adjusted the control switch to permit freedom of movement, and also in instances when the occupant might prefer 5f safety to freedom oifmovernentbut forgotten to move the control switch to itsiorward position to thus lock lthe harnesscable.

The invention Ihas been show-n applied to the pilots chair for an airplane,v butfit may also be applied to airplane pamenger chairs., and to drivers and passenger `chairs -i-n--other vehicles such as mo'torca-rs and railroad ltrains with eiectiveness. In general.- the invention mayfind useful application wherever an automatic, inertialocked 'reel is required, i

While but one speciiic embodiment of: the -invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood tha-tmanyidetails of construction may be altered: or omitted kwithout departing from `the spirit of the invention ras .the same is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device ofthe :class described, a base, a drum rotatably vand slidably mounted-*on the base, a cable connected to saiddrum and-adapted to be wound thereon, means 4for normally yieldingly urging said drum ina rotating direction for winding the cable thereon, 'and ratchet means xedly 4positioned on the base and thexdrum :adapted to engage when cooperating ratchet means on the drum is slid in one @direction relative to the base to thus prevent .rotation of the drum yin a direction for unwinding :the 4cable and Apermit rotation of the drum in :a direction for winding the cable,y said ratchet mfean's being adapted to disengage when the 'drumlis slid :in the .opposite direction relative .t the base.

2. In a device of the 'class describeda base, a drum rotatably and `slidably mounted on the base, a cable connected to lsaid .drum and .adapted to be wound thereon, means for normally yieldingly urging said drum in. fa irota'tfing` direction for Winding the `cable thereon, ratchet 'means fxedly positioned on the base and :cooperating ratchet means on the drum -adapted--toengfage the'ra-tchet means on the base when Athe druin is slid in one direction relative 'to 'the base `tothus vprevent Vrotation of the drum in a direction for unwinding the cable and permitrotation fof 'the drum Ain a l direction for w'indin'g the l-'cable, :Said ratchet means being'adapted to disengage when the 'drum is slid in the opposite 'direction relative to the base, and spring means l-for yie'ldingl'y urging the drum to a position disen'gagging said ratchet means.

3. In a device of the classfdescribed, a base, a drum rotatably and slidably, mounted on the base, a cable connected to said drum Ladalzited to be wound thereon, means Jfor inormallyxyieldingly urging said drum in a rotating directionfor -winding the cable thereon, interlockingratchets Xedly positioned on the bas'e' 'and 'cooperating ratchets on the drum adapted .to eifi'gage the ratchets on the base when the drum Vis lslidfin one direction relative to the Abase `to thus prevent rotation; of the Adrum in .a .direction for unwinding the-cable and permit rotation. of ythedrurn in a direction for Winding the cable, said interlocking ratchets being adapted to disengage was the dremis sud in the opposite direction relative 'tothe base, and spring means for y-ieldingly ru-'rgir'igf the drum to a position disengaging saidinterlocking .ratchets 4,'In a device of the class described, .a base, a laterally projectingV --r spindle -ir'rountedv on Vthe base, a drum rotatablyandlslidably mounted on the Spindle, a cable connectedto said drum-,and

adapted to be wound thereomhieans for normally yieldirgly urging said i'n 'a rotating direction for Winding the cable thereon, and ratchet means xedly positioned on the leaseand 'cooperating ratchet means on the drum adapted to engage the ratchet means on the base when the drum is slid in one direction relative to the base 5 to thus prevent rotation of the drum ina 'direction for unwinding the cable and permit rotation of the drum in a direction for winding the cable, said ratchet means being adapted to -disengage when the drum is slid in the opposite direction relative to the base.

5. In a device ofV the class described, .a base, fa drum rotatably and slidablymounted on the base, a cable connected to said drum and 'adapted Vto be wound thereon, means for yieldingly urging said drum in a rotating direction for Winding the cable thereon, interlocking means on the ibase and the drum adapted to engage when the drum is slid in one direction relative to the kbase to thusa spring unit interposed between the base and the drum for yieldingiy urging the drum to a position disengaging said interlocking means, said spring unit comprising complementary spring leaves each stamped to provide a iiange at one end, an aperture at the other end and a bowed middle portion, said leaves being secured together in opposite outwardly bowed juxtaposition with the liange on each spring leaf Vengaging Vin the aperture on the other spring leaf.

6. In a device of the lclass described, `a base, .a laterally projecting spindle mounted on the base, a drum rotatably and sli'dably mounted on theV spindle, a cable connected to said drum "and adapted to be wound thereon, a coil spring having its inner end secured to the spindle and its outer end secured to the drum 'for yieldingly urging said drum in a rotating direction for winding the cable thereon, interlocking ratchets on the base and the drum adapted to engage when the drum is slid in one direction relative to the base to thus prevent rotation of the drum in a direction for unwinding the cable, said interlocking ratchets being adapted to disengage when the drum is slid in the opposite direct-ion .relativeto the base, a spring unit interposed between the y base and the drum for yieldingly urging the drum 5U toa position disengaging said interlocking ratchets,.said Vspring unit comprising complementary spring leaves each stamped to vprovidea yiiange at one end, an aperture at the other end and a bowed middle portion having a central 4opening through which lpasses the spindle on the base, said leaves being secured together in opposite outwardly bowed juxtaposition with the flange on each spring leaf engaging in the aperture fin the other spring leaf.

7. In a device of the class described, a base, a. drum rotatably and slidably mounted `on the base, a cable connected to said drum and adapted vto be wound thereon, means for normally yieldin'gly ing the cable thereon, ratchet means on the base and the drum adapted to engagewhen the drum is slid in one direction relative to the base to thus prevent rotation of the drum in a direction for unwinding the cable and permit rotation 'or the ldrum in a direction for winding the cable,

said ratchetY means being adapted 'to disengaged when the drum is fsl'id in the opposite rdir'ec'ticir'i relative to the b'ase,*and a manually opera-ble v'controlhlever associated with said drum for effecting sliding movement thereof relative to the base,

urging said drum in a rotating direction forwind- 8. In a device of the class described, a base, a drum rotatably and slidably mounted on the base, a cable connected to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon, means for normally yieldingly urging said drum in a rotating direction for winding the cable thereon, ratchet means on the base and the drum adapted to engage when the drum is slid in one direction relative to the base to thus prevent rotation of the drum in a direction for unwinding the cable and permit rotation of the drum in a direction for winding the cable, said ratchet means being adapted to disengage when the drum is slid in the opposite direction relative to the base, a housing mounted on the base and enclosing said drum, and a manually operable control lever pivotally mounted on the housing and associated with said drum for eifecting sliding movement thereof relative to the base.

9. In combination, a vehicle, a chair therein., a harness for the chair occupant associated with the chair, a drum rotatably mounted on the vehicle in association with the chair, a cable connected to the harness and to the drum whereby rotation of the drum in o-ne direction winds the cable thereon to tighten the harness and opposite rotation of the drum unwinds the cable to relax the harness, a locking member on the vehicle and a cooperative locking member on the drum, one of said locking members being fixed relative to the vehicle and the other of said locking members being movable relative to the vehicle and responsive to abrupt deceleration of the vehicle so as to move by inertia into cooperative engagement with the xed locking member to lock the drum against rotation in the direction which unwinds the cable.

10. In combination, a vehicle, a chair therein, a harness for the chair occupant associated with the chair, a drum mounted in the vehicle for forward-rearward sliding movement relative to the vehicle and for rotation about an axis extending forwardly-rearwardly of the vehicle, a cable connected to the harness and to the drum whereby rotation of the drum in one direction winds the cable thereon to tighten the harness and opposite rotation of the drum unwinds the cable to relax the harness, and locking means iixedly mounted on the vehicle adapted to engage the drum in the latters forwardly slid position to prevent rotation thereof.

11. In combination, a Vehicle, a chair therein, a harness for the chair occupant associated with the chair, a drum mounted in the vehicle for forward-rearward sliding movement relative to the vehicle and for rotation about an axis ex tending forwardly-rearwardly of the vehicle, a cable connected to the harness and to the drum whereby rotation of the drum in one direction winds the cable thereon to tighten the harness` and opposite rotation of the drum unwinds the cable to relax the harness, and locking means xedly mounted on the vehicle adapted to engage the drum in the latters forwardly slid position to prevent rotation thereof, said drum being responsive to abrupt deceleration of the vehicle so as to slide by inertia forwardly relative to the vehicle and into engagement with said locking means.

12. In combination, a vehicle, a chair therein, a harness for the chair occupant associated with the chair, a drum mounted in the vehicle for forward-rearward sliding movement relative to the vehicle and for rotation about an axis extending forwardly-rearwaardly of the vehicle, a cable connected to the harness and to the drum whereby rotation of the drum in one direction winds the cable thereon to tighten the harness and opposite rotation of the drum unwinds the cable to relax the harness, locking means ixedly mounted on the vehicle adapted to engage the drum in the latters forwardly slid position to prevent rotation thereof, and spring means for normally urging the drum rearwardly relative to the vehicle.

13. In combination, a. vehicle, a chair therein, a harness for the chair occupant associated with the chair, a drum mounted in the vehicle for forward-rearward sliding movement relative to the Vehicle and for rotation about an axis extending forwardly-rearwardly of the vehicle, a cable connected to the harness and to the drum whereby rotation of the drum in one direction winds the cable thereon to tighten the harness and opposite rotation of the drum unwinds the cable to relax the harness, locking means xedly mounted on the vehicle adapted to engage the drum in the latters forwardly slid position to prevent rotation thereof, and spring means for normally urging the drum rearwardly relative to the vehicle, said sprinfT means being yieldable under forward inertia of the drum to permit the drum to slide forwardly relative to the vehicle and into engagement with said locking means.

14. In a device of the class described, a base, a drum rotatably and slidably mounted on the base, a cable connected to said drum and adapted to be wound thereon, means for normally yieldingly urging said drum in a rotating direction for winding the cable thereon, ratchet means on the base and the drum adapted to engage when the drum is slid in one direction relative to the base to thus prevent rotation of the drum in a direction for unwinding the cable, spring means normally yieldingly urging the drum in an opposite direction to a positoin of disengagement wherein said drum is rotatable in either direction, manually operable control means associated with the drum for sliding the drum to and maintaining it in its position of engagement, said control means including yieldable spring means permitting limited sliding movement of the drum during its rotating movement in a direction for winding the cable so that the ratchet means on the drum may pass freely over the ratchet means on the base during said winding movement.

WALTER NOR-DMARK.

REFERENCES CITED The followinDr references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 202,962 Robertson Apr. 30, 1878 323,294 Brown July 28, 1885 480,430 Koch Aug. 9, 1892 511,967 Pitel Jan. 2, 1894 1,177,885 Molnar Apr. 4, 1916 1,856,223 Mirick May 3, 1932 1,895,222 Johnson Jan. 24, 1933 1,962,927 DeBats June 12, 1934 2,162,719 Hay June 20, 1939 2,195,334 Lethern Mar. 2S, 1940 2,403,653 Geohegan et al. July 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 587,276 Germany Oct. 12, 1933 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,480,335 August 30, 1949 WALTER E. NORDMARK It is hereby certified that errors appearin the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequ'u'ing correctiolvr` asffllows: y;

Column 5v, lines 25, 26 and 27, strikeouts the Words the drum adapted to engage when cooperating ratchet meaneonland `insert mstead cooperating ratchet means on the drum adapted' to engage the ratchet means on the base when;

and that the said Letters Patentjehould-'be Lread"Withv-theefcorrections therein that the same may conformto the record ofthe case in the Patent'cie. Signed and sealedjths 14th day of February, A. D. 1950'.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommzsszorter of Patents. 

